Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Mark John Sawrey Leece

Douglas Duane Berrett

Ryan James D'Aurelio

Zachariah Glen Johnson

Sean E Kollenkark

A method and apparatus are disclosed for combining server-supplied user interface elements with client-supplied user interface elements. The server-supplied user interface elements can be received by a client device and inserted into a client-supplied object model, such as a Document Object Model (DOM). The object model can then be used to render a page, such as a webpage. By injecting server-supplied user interface elements into a client object model, the client can intelligently combine UI elements from a server with UI elements from a client. In the situation where there are conflicting or overlapping UI elements, the client device can modify the object model to eliminate such conflicts or overlaps.

Combining server-side and client-side user interface elements

A secure communication method between a web compartment and a client application can allow network updates to be used for a client application. For example, a secure communication method can allow predefined operations to be carried out on a client machine. An example web compartment can include an iframe tag and the communication can be a string command, such as by using a postmessage API. Such a structure allows some user interface elements to be supplied from a client device and other user interface elements to be supplied a server computer.

Communication with a web compartment in a client application

Portions of an application can be delivered through a network without having to download the entire application. When an application is installed, HTML, CSS and JavaScripts&#xae; or other User Interface (UI) files can be copied into local cache. A version number can also be stored with this code, so that when the application is launched, a web service checks the latest version on a server computer. If the latest version differs from the cached version, then an update is needed. New UI files can then be downloaded to the local cache. The local cache can be a folder that is used by the application, wherein the folder is stored on a hard drive of the client device. Binaries associated with the application can be stored in a different folder.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Mark John Sawrey Leece